House Democrats on Tuesday moved to force the House to vote on President Obama’s request for $1.9 billion to combat the Zika virus.
Democrats announced they plan to file a discharge petition, which would trigger a floor vote on the funding plan if 218 lawmakers sign it.
“The American people are fed up with the Republican Congress’ indefensible refusal to protect the health and safety of the American people,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “We will continue to call on our Republican colleagues to ‘do your job’ and give us a vote on the full $1.9 billion request.”
But Pelosi’s effort to bring a $1.9 billion measure made up of new funding is likely to end in failure. Democrats control 188 votes and it is unlikely they’ll be able to lure the 40 Republicans needed to move the discharge petition.
Democrats have repeatedly criticized the GOP for failing to take up Obama’s spending request. They have offered seven amendments calling for the money, but all have been defeated by the GOP-led House.
Federal health officials are currently using $590 million re-directed from a fund to battle the Ebola virus, which has receded.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate are negotiating a compromise deal between two Zika bills authored by each chamber. While many were hoping for a deal last week, there is no deal yet, a GOP aide said.
The House is scheduled to be in recess next week and the Senate will be out of session the week the House returns.
The recess schedule would mean Congress will have to act this week in order to pass a Zika funding package prior to July 4, which has been an informal goal set by lawmakers working on the deal.
“Negotiations are ongoing,” the aide said. “We do not have a timeline for an agreement as of yet.”
The House bill would redirect $622 million in existing federal funding to Zika, a mosquito-transmitted disease that causes severe birth defects and neurological problems.
The Senate legislation would spend $1.1 billion in new funding on ZIka, adding that cost to the deficit.
